S.B.P.D raise curfew awareness as enforcement increases

June 15, 2006|ALICIA GALLEGOS and TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writers

SOUTH BEND -- Parents, do you know where your children are after curfew? Do you know what kind of trouble they could be causing or what harm may come to them? These are a couple of questions South Bend police are asking, and not knowing the answer could cost you a pretty penny. Police recently made a video showing the problems that can come from teenagers and children violating South Bend's curfew ordinance, in hopes of cracking down on the increasing problem. The ordinance means anyone younger than 18 is subject to detention and fines if found in public after certain times. Scenarios were acted out by officers and members of the department's Explorer program, which is geared to ages 14 to 20. The video will soon air on area TV stations. The 25-second slot shows a group of teenagers hanging out on South Michigan Street past curfew. Police put the teenagers in handcuffs and take them to the South Bend Police Department, where their "pretend" parents meet them in the lobby area and give them an earful. Police are taking curfew violations seriously. Last week, more than a dozen youths -- younger than age 18 -- were rounded up in one night by police for violating curfew near the corner of Walnut and Dunham streets. One of the kids was only 9 years old. "Considering we're just kicking it off this season, that's pretty high," said Sgt. Lee Ross, a crime prevention specialist. "We had to call the paddy wagon to get them all. It's the highest total so far (in one place) this year." Since June 7, there have been 15 reported curfew violations, according to police. The most recent was early Tuesday when police caught two teens about 1:30 a.m. hanging around the Potawatomi pool in the 2000 block of East Wall Street. The teens were lucky and didn't have to be detained, since a parent was found at a home and signed for both, police said. But other children found breaking curfew laws can be headed for more trouble. It's considered a curfew violation for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 to be in a public place without a parent between 1 and 5 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays and after 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Those teenagers must also be off the streets before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. It's also a curfew violation for a child younger than 15 to be in a public place after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day. Exceptions do exist, including if the child has written permission from his or her parent to be in public, is participating in lawful employment, a school sanctioned activity, or a religious event, according to the ordinance. If youths are found breaking curfew, police can transport them to the Police Department, where a parent or guardian is then called and must sign a form to appear at the Frederick Juvenile Justice Center. Repeat curfew offenders can be driven directly to the JJC and taken into custody. The point of the video -- with the underlying message, Do you know where your children are? -- is to create more awareness about South Bend's curfew ordinance. South Bend has had curfew laws in the past, but last year a city ordinance was passed in South Bend with less provisions, police said. This summer officers plan to more actively enforce the regulations, according to Sgt. James Maxey. "The video gives everybody a heads-up and (helps) them realize that it's important," he said. The public service announcement also ties in with the department's "Enough is Enough" campaign, a joint effort with media and community leaders to help curb a recent string of violence and shootings in South Bend. Ross believes sending youths inside late at night is one way to start the campaign. "We need to get kids off the street and keep them from getting involved in vandalism," Ross said. "We need to keep kids from getting shot and shooting each other. We are urging the community to come up with ideas and help get the kids doing other things like playing basketball." Residents should recognize the dangers of children being outside after curfew, Maxey added. "It's just the (fuel) for something more to happen," Maxey said. "Hopefully people will pay attention." "It cannot only cost you money, it can cost you a life." Staff writer Alicia Gallegos: agallegos@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6368